The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-10-27
PENSIONS.
The Duty of the Government to the
Veterans.
BY MRS. JOHN A. LOGAN.

Il
Here the recipients are almost exclusively those
who have been disabled by wounds or disease
contracted while in the military or naval serv-
ice, or their widows and orphans, if there be
widow or children if not, the dependent
mother, father, sister or brother, as the case
may be- the privilege going no farther down
the scale of kinship. In European countries
their list includes civil, diplomatic, military,
naval or other service, and is extended through
a much greater number of relatives of the PEN
soner, who may, in case of his death, inherit
his pension-tis said, in some cases, taking in
even the much-abused mother-in-law. There
has been complaint that these pensions are
for the most part undeserved." While with Us
Congress, representing the people, has, from
time to time, made most liberal provisions for
pensioning soldiers, sailors and their legiti-
mate dependents; still the requirements of the
various laws are most stringent, and in innum-
cradle cases difficult to establish on account of
the death or unknown whereabouts of the wit
nesses necessary to furnish the proof requisite.
Hundreds deserving the highest pension al
lowed in their respective cases are unable to |
comply with the rules governing the proof, and |
hence, in far too many instances, the unfortu- |
nate claimant finds the succor needed in the |
pOorhouses of the country, or the Homes pro- |
vided by some of the States for the INDECENT |
soldier and sailor. But these Homes do not adj
nit the wife, widow or orphans, except in |
very few cases where there have been Soldiers |
and Sailors Orphans Homes, now almost
wholly discontinued.
1t should be the proud boast of the United
States that zone ofthe largest items in the finan-
cial budget of the Government" was the PEN
sion rolls, and the support of the officers neces-
sary to pay them. In every conflict of this
mighty Nation for its preservation and suprem-
acy, from the days of the Revolution to the
present time. she has never asked in vain for
defenders. And she would not now need to
call very loudly were an emergency to arise.
Thousands would rush to her defense, feeling
they could rely upon her sense of justice and
protecting care.
In 1861, when martial music called to arms
men from fields, workshops, mercantile pur-
suits and professions, how lavish were the
| promises to those who marched away to do and
die if need be! Bounties, pensions, protection
and care to the soldiers and sailors and to those
| they left behind was guaranteed by the most
sacred pledges. Wives, mothers, children and
dependent parents saw their only support
march away to the front to share the fate of
war for the paltry sum of s13 per month in
deprecated currency, which they called SOL
dier's pay. An insignificant sum in dollars
and cents to meet the daily needs of one indi-
yidual, let alone to support family. These
brave people murmured not. but took up the
duties the soldier laid down and bravely strug-
gled at home, while he calamity pressed to the
front, through the storms of the Winters
blasts, the burning suns of Summers heat and
the bloody carnage of wars dread conflict.
Was the pittance received by the soldier or
sailor any compensation for this service, for
this self-saerfce, for the weary marches and
| physical suffering they endured, to say moth
| ing Of the thousands who died or were totally
disabled by wounds or disease that their cOun-
try might live? They fulfilled to the letter
their promise to serve the Government of the
United States for aspeciied time, unless sooner
discharged for disability contracted in the line
of duty or peace be declared.
They believed the Government could be per-
petuated, and that they would not only be paid
their monthly stipend, but that they would re-
ceive all the benefits of the promises made,
giving to every officer, soldier sailor who lost
health or limb pension.
Did the patriotic stay-at-homes keep their
pledges of guardianship over their families or
has the Government fulfilled its part of the
contract, until the last disabled survivor or
the widows and legitimate dependents of de-
ceased officers, soldiers and sailors are ON the
pension rolls, rating in amount according to
disability of the men who did the service?
In very few cases Congress has given, very
Justly. special pensions to the widows of dis
tingushed officers who died in the service since
peace was declared of sums in a small degree
in keeping with the claim of generosity and
abundance of the Government. but in no sense
commensurate for services rendered by those
officers during the late war.
A few officers aud men who to-day arc totally
disabled have received special pensions by
Congressional liberality. But what are these
pensions compared to their disability, and the
agony of their physical suffering? Had these
persons the money to command what would
they not give to recover health and lost or
shattered limbs? i have in my mind one dis
tinguished ease. frequently quoted as an illus
tration OF the lavish generosity of the Govern
ment. but when we consider the MANNED con-
dition of that officer and the fortunes he en-
dures from rheumatic and nervous troubles
superinduced by the wounds he received in
battle, the "large pension" fades into insig-
nificance and is poor compensation. There
can be no remuneration for permanent disa-
bility or the loss of life or limb.
The cry against additional pensioners is as to
the already great numbers and the large amount
of money to pay them. Crackers never stop
to consider the obligations Of the Government
or the business of the claim. With an over
flowing Treasury and a prosperous country,
whose revenues are exhaustless, would it not
be greatly to the credit of the legislative
branch of the Government to direct that these
= contracts made with every officer and man
when commissioned or enlisted in the army or
the navy, that if injured or disabled while in
the line of his duty in the service he shall re-
ceive pension, and that those dependent upon
| him shall not be forgotten when his support is
withdrawn by reason of disability or death?
Would not the Chief Executive contribute to
the welfare and happiness of this class of eiti-
zens of the country, and in no wise jeopardize
| its financial interests by an earnest recon-
mendation to Congress that these sacred debts
of the Government be paid out of the much